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Sightings archive

April 2019

April 30th
Lea Farm GP – Kingfisher (David Williams-Jones); Reed Warbler (Geoff Emmett)
Sandford Lake – Garganey drake on gravel island, 2 Oystercatcher (Joseph Taylor)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Lesser Whitethroat one singing on northern peninsula the second on the southern island (Rick Dawson)
Mortimer Meadow – 2 Wheatear just south of pylon lines, Lesser Whitethroat still around, Whitethroat (Andrew Merrick)
Redwood Lake – 2 Kingfishers, Garden Warbler (Andrew Merrick)


Drake Garganey at Sandford Lake – Geoff Emmett


Reed Warbler at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


Reed Warbler at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


2 Wheatear on Mortimer Meadow – Richard Marsh

April 29th
Lea Farm GP – Mandarin Duck drake on the Loddon near the Green Bridge, Whitethroat (David Dolan)


Drake Mandarin Duck on the Loddon at Lea Farm – David Dolan


Whitethroat at Lea Farm – David Dolan

April 28th
Lea Farm GP – Whimbrel roosting on shingle island, 29+ Common Tern on island (FJC); Sparrowhawk on the Sand Martin wall (Geoff Emmett)
Lavell’s Lake – Tawny Owl called near Teal scrape (FJC); 2 Cuckoo female flew past hide to join male which was calling from island (Richard Marsh); 5 Ring-necked Parakeet near feeders (Ian Paine); Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcap all calling from reed bed to pathway copse (Michael Hubbard)
Black Swan Lake – Kittiwake adult east side visible from the activity centre, Little Gull first summer flew in and went to west side (FJC)
Mortimer Meadow – 2 Whitethroat along Bader Way southern end (Michael Hubbard)


Adult Kittiwake at Black Swan Lake – FJC


Pairing Common Terns at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 27th
Lea Farm GP – Whimbrel on landfill to left of island, Oystercatcher, Snipe on east shore, 16 Common Tern on the island (John McGovan); Kingfisher flew north along Loddon (Richard Marsh)
Lavell’s Lake – Cuckoo calling from island, Snipe flew into vegetation on scrape (Richard Marsh)
Sandford Lake – Reed Warbler singing in reeds left of hide, House Martin with other hirundines (Finley Hutchinson)
Black Swan Lake – 30 Common Tern, Lesser Whitethroat singing from south island (Marek Walford); Arctic Tern with the Common Terns over the lake, Swift over east side mid way along old golf course (FJC); Kingfisher flying low over the lake (Bob Bennett)

April 26th
Lea Farm GP – Whimbrel on landfill to right of island (Richard Marsh); 5 Blackcap territories being sung from on both sides of river, 2 Common Tern, Oystercatcher on island (Michael Hubbard)
Lavell’s Lake – Whitethroat at back of scrape on saplings (Tim James); 3+ Reed Warbler singing from around reed beds, Cetti’s Warbler (Michael Hubbard)
Sandford Lake – Whitethroat singing, 4 Blackcap along path from road entrance to hide, Reed Warbler singing in reeds left of hide, Common Tern on post, Oystercatcher on biggest island (Michael Hubbard)
White Swan Lake – Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat all calling from the end reed bed, Kingfisher flew over reed bed (Michael Hubbard)
Mortimer Meadow – Lesser Whitethroat near Bader Way hedgerow between pylon lines and bridge (Richard Marsh)

April 25th
Lea Farm GP – Curlew flew east of landfill south west towards Black Swan (FJC);
Lavell’s Lake – Whitethroat showed well in middle copse in the car park field (John McGovan); Cuckoo singing on island (Richard Marsh)
Sandford Lake – Common Sandpiper on biggest island (FJC)
Middle Marsh – Whitethroat singing (Brian Bennett)
Mortimer Meadow – Lesser Whitethroat mobile near Bader Way hedgerow between pylon lines and bridge, Whitethroat along southern hedgerow too (Andrew Merrick); 4 House Martin over south (FJC)

April 24th
Lea Farm GP – 2 Great Black-backed Gull over west (FJC); 7 Common Tern over lake and on various drums, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet one on the feeders, Reed Warbler in reeds to left of hide, 2 Reed Bunting male and female, Sparrowhawk male flying over the reeds, 2 Coal Tit on the feeders, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Bob Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – Cetti’s Warbler flew across path just past Jerry’s bench, 2 Chiffchaff in trees, 4 Blackcap along path between the hides, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler both seen just past the Green bridge (Bob Bennett); 2 Snipe in the cut reeds to the right of the hide, 6 Teal on the scrape (Peter Scudamore); 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the scrape collecting nesting material! (Geoff Emmett)
Black Swan Lake – Common Sandpiper at sailing club beach (FJC); 2 Mandarin males near duck feeding area (Brian Bennett)
Mortimer Meadow – Whitethroat singing near Bader Way bridge (Andrew Merrick)


Lesser Black-backed Gull with nesting materials at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett

April 23rd
Lea Farm GP – 12 Common Tern mobile over lake (FJC); Green Sandpiper east shore behind the island, Whitethroat singing north end, Reed Warbler left of hide (Brian Bennett); Redshank (Geoff Emmett)
Lavell’s Lake – 2 Cuckoo flew around Bittern hide (FJC)
Sandford Lake – Kingfisher flew across lake, Snipe on island, 2 Oystercatcher, Common Tern circling lake (Richard Marsh)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Great White Egret flew over viewpoint towards lake (Richard Marsh)
White Swan Lake – 2 Common Tern (Richard Marsh)
Mortimer Meadow – 2 Common Tern flew along Loddon and over meadow (Richard Marsh)


Redshank at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 22nd
Lea Farm GP – 8 Common Tern circling lake high up (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – Cuckoo currently in tall tree opposite Bittern hide (Gail Ditchfield)


Common Tern with a fish at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 21st
Lea Farm GP – Whinchat perched on vent immediately east of lake, Wheatear on vent (FJC); 2 Common Tern, Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Cuckoo, Oystercatcher (Marek Walford)
Lavell’s Lake – Whitethroat calling beyond scrape to right, Common Tern over south (FJC)
Black Swan Lake – Common Sandpiper flew from East side around big island and out of view (FJC)


Whinchat at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 20th
Lea Farm GP – House Martin seen with the Sand Martins (Marek Walford)
Lavell’s Lake – Garden Warbler by Jerry’s bench (John McGovan); 2 Oystercatcher our breeding pair (Geoff Emmett)
White Swan Lake – Sedge Warbler singing and showing well in reed bed (Brian Bennett)


Our breeding pair of Oystercatchers at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett

April 19th
Lea Farm GP – Raven, Cetti’s Warbler (Marek Walford); Cuckoo in tree north end of lake (Tim James); 5+ Swallow moving north some had quick drink (Peter Scudamore)
Lavell’s Lake – 4 Teal, Cetti’s Warbler, Cuckoo (Marek Walford); Nightingale by Jerry’s bench (Derek Finnie); Garden Warbler in Blackthorn (FJC); Whitethroat singing from back of Bittern scrape near solar panels. (Alan Rymer)
Sandford Lake – Oystercatcher (Marek Walford); Reed Warbler in reeds near hide (John McGovan)

April 18th
Lea Farm GP – Common Tern on the floating drum (Geoff Emmett); Sedge Warbler showing well in front of hide (John McGovan)
Lavell’s Lake – Cuckoo calling for last 10 minutes just flew over Lea Farm heading north, 2 Grey Wagtail noisy around Mill (FJC)
Sandford Lake – Reed Warbler singing in reeds near hide (Brian Bennett)


Common Tern at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 17th
Lea Farm GP – Cuckoo in tall Poplar, Common Sandpiper on east shore (Brian Bennett); Common Tern present for about 15 minutes, 3 Snipe, Shelduck (Richard Marsh); Barn Owl flew across from Sand Martin wall (John McGovan)
Lavell’s Lake – Cetti’s Warbler showing by Jerry’s bench (Brian Bennett); Cuckoo still in tall Poplar (Roger Stansfield)
Sandford Lake – Oystercatcher (Richard Marsh)
Black Swan Lake – Little Grebe calling from The Moors (Andrew Merrick)
Mortimer Meadow – 2 Willow Warbler one singing at the north end another by the pylon on west side of Bader Way (Andrew Merrick)


Cuckoo in a Poplar tree at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett

April 16th
Lea Farm GP – Common Tern flew over to the north without stopping (Roger Stansfield)
Lavell’s Lake – Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Tern (David Williams-Jones); Cuckoo in tall Poplar (FJC); Snipe in the wet meadow (Geoff Emmett)
Sandford Lake – Oystercatcher deep in vegetation on most easterly island (Richard Marsh); Willow Warbler singing north side (Brian Bennett)


Cuckoo in a Poplar tree at Lavell’s Lake – FJC


Sand Martins at the wall at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


Snipe on the wet meadows at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett

April 15th
Lea Farm GP – Male Sparrowhawk took a Sand Martin in front of the wall (FJC); Little Ringed Plover (Tim James); Little Egret (Peter Scudamore); Kestrel (Steve Rogers)
Lavell’s Lake – 14 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 25+ Tufted Duck (Peter Scudamore)
Sandford Lake – Common Gull (Peter Scudamore)

April 14th
Lea Farm GP – Cuckoo calling briefly to the north, Little Egret over (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – Kestrel over Bittern hide scrape (FJC)

April 13th
Lea Farm GP – Cuckoo flew past hide (FJC); Yellow Wagtail (Geoff Emmett); Common Gull & 2 Herring, Little Ringed Plover (Bruce Irvine)
Lavell’s Lake – Cuckoo calling near Teal hide (FJC); Avocet on Bittern hide scrape (Geoff Emmett via visiting birders). NB: Bird seen leaving at 17.05 by Ida Groot-Attias


Avocet at Lavell’s – Geoff Emmett

April 12th
Lea Farm GP – fem. Wheatear on vents (Richard Marsh); Willow Warbler near green bridge, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher (John McGowan)
Lavell’s Lake – Oystercatcher, male Bullfinch (Richard Marsh); Herring Gull over, Little Egret, Cetti’s Warbler (Bruce Irvine)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Mandarin Duck male and female (Richard Marsh)
Sandford Lake – Garden Warbler in trees east of viewing screen (Richard Marsh)


Red Kite – Geoff Emmett

April 11th
Lea Farm GP – Sedge Warbler in front of hide, Linnet over (FJC)
Lavell’s Lake – Tree Pipit over low near Bittern hide (FJC)
Sandford Lake – Garden Warbler singing left of bench by Sandford Lane crossing point (Peter Scudamore)

April 10th
Lea Farm GP – Wheatear, fem. Goldeneye, Kingfisher, 3 Oystercatcher (John McGowan); 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Snipe (Brian Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – Willow Warbler singing near Teal hide (Brian Bennett); 2 Oystercatcher, Kingfisher (Richard Marsh)
Sandford Lake – Willow Warbler, 2 Oystercatcher (Jenny Vaughan)
Mortimer’s Meadow – 2 Green Woodpecker (Richard Marsh)

April 9th
Lea Farm GP – 3 Common Gull, Yellow Wagtail (FJC); 2 Wheatear, Curlew, 2 Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler singing to left of hide (Geoff Emmett et al); Whimbrel (Roger Stansfield et al)
Lavell’s Lake – 6 Snipe, Willow Warbler near Bittern hide (FJC)
Black Swan Lake – 2 Redwing over (FJC)


Curlew at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


Whimbrel at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 8th
Lea Farm GP – fem. Goldeneye, 3 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 3 Redwing over north (FJC); 3 Oystercatcher, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, 60+ Sand Martin, 2 House Martin, 4 Swallow (Richard Marsh); 2 Common Tern a.m. (Tim James); 5 Common Tern p.m., 3 Little Ringed Plover (Brian Bennett)
Lavell’s Lake – 5 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher (Richard Marsh)
Black Swan Lake – 22 House Martin (Brian Bennett)
Sandford Lake – 2 Common Tern, 2 Oystercatcher (Richard Marsh)

April 7th
Lea Farm GP – 5 Oystercatcher, 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon, Lapwing, Snipe, Common Tern flew past hide heading north (FJC); 2 Little Ringed Plover (Richard Marsh); Rook on path along East bank, 3 Snipe on water’s edge (Trevor Guyatt)
Lavell’s Lake – Mandarin male briefly at river junction near Mill flew north (FJC); Kingfisher flew north along Loddon, 4 Snipe, Little Egret, Ring-necked Parakeet at Bittern hide (Richard Marsh); 4 Ring-necked Parakeet on feeders (Finley Hutchinson)
Sandford Lake – Pochard (FJC)
Black Swan Lake – 22 Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush both feeding on the raised central area on the old Golf Course (Brian Bennett)

April 6th
Lea Farm GP – 4 Blackcaps (FJC); 2 Mediterranean Gull both adults , 3 Little Ringed Plover on the east shore (Brian Bennett)
Black Swan Lake – Willow Warbler singing on the promontory (Lynn Mann); Willow Warbler still and showing well (Roger Stansfield)


A pair of Little Ringed Plover’s at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


Little Ringed Plover at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


Mediterranean Gull pair at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 5th
Lea Farm GP – 2 Mediterranean Gull (Geoff Emmett); 2 Common Gull adult and 2nd year (Roger Stansfield); 2 Mandarin Duck in north east corner (Trevor Guyatt)
Lavell’s Lake – 2 Snipe (Richard Marsh)


Mediterranean Gull at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


Mediterranean Gull at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 3rd
Lea Farm GP – 50+ Sand Martin many showing interest in the wall, 2 Oystercatcher over, Redshank, 4 Swallow (Richard Marsh); 5+ Blackcap on path to hide (Bob Bennett); Pied Wagtail (Geoff Emmett)
Lavell’s Lake – 2 Oystercatcher same birds as seen at Lea Farm, 2 Snipe (Richard Marsh)
Sandford Lake – Willow Warbler in Blackthorne on west side (FJC)
Black Swan Lake – Grey Wagtail singing on sailing club jetty, 6 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin feeding low over water (Brian Bennett); 30+ House Martin over with Swallows seen with Rick Dawson (Bob Bennett)


Pied Wagtail on the gravel at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


A Swallow on a stick at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett

April 2nd
Lea Farm GP – 34+ Sand Martin, 6+ House Martin, 2 Kingfisher, Oystercatcher over (Richard Marsh); 3+ Swallow, 4 Teal, 10 Wigeon, Shoveler, 8 Gadwall (Peter Scudamore); Little Ringed Plover just flown in calling now feeding on east shore, 2 Skylark on the landfill (Brian Bennett); 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Oystercatcher on landfill, 4 Greenfinch on the feeders, Greater Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders (David Dolan)
Lavell’s Lake – Blackcap singing near John’s bench on path to Bittern hide, Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Little Grebe on the Balancing Pool, 2 Oystercatcher mating on bund, Little Egret (Richard Marsh); 3 Snipe, 34+ Shoveler, 4 Teal (Peter Scudamore)


Meadow Pipit on the gravel at Lea Farm – David Dolan


A Swallow and 3 Sand Martin on a stick at Lea Farm – David Dolan

April 1st
Lea Farm GP – Sand Martin an increasing number showing an interest in the wall (Geoff Emmett)
Lavell’s Lake – Blackcap male singing (Geoff Emmett); Snipe (Steve Beasant)


Sand Martins inspecting the wall at Lea Farm – Geoff Emmett


Singing male Blackcap at Lavell’s Lake – Geoff Emmett


Snipe at Lavell’s Lake – Steve Beasant